Ford 360 or 390 FE Engine? - How to Tell the Difference in 5 Minutes

the 390 & 360 FE share the same block, so it is difficult to tell them apart from the outside - here is how to quickly determine what you have.
360 fe or 390 fe
360 fe vs 360 fe
difference between 390 and 360 fe
does my truck have a 360 or 390 fe
do i have a 360 or 390 fe
difference between 360 and 390

[@MavDude]

They're all "definitely" 390's when you're a seller, and all assumed to be 360's until proven otherwise when you're a buyer. FACTS. lol

[@richardbates2367]

In my experience every single one that someone told me was a 390,was in fact just the normal 360fe oh well decent dependable and durable motors

[@JunkyardDigs]

That is the official shirt of working on FE engines, never the less in an old blue f250

[@Pedrofitbulls]

I got a red on

[@2ndamendment495]

You can also put number 1 piston to top dead center and pull the number 4 plug out to measure the stroke.

[@ThunderHead289]

That makes sense - Iv always just done this on whatever engine to measure the stroke. That would be 2 minutes vs 5 !!!

[@Loan--Wolf]

i never thought about that lol good idea

[@xmo552]

Now that's a great idea. It's so simple and genius. Thanks.

[@bartjacobs3394]

That's the same way I checked my engine stroke it turned out to be a 390 guy I got it from said it was 360.🙂

[@piratecat4519]

Sounds easy til you go back there to pull that #4 plug.on my 67 fairlane that was no easy task.

[@tomswinburn1778]

I worked for a company in the 70s that bought all their trucks from the Tennessee Valley Authority. F-250s with auto and the 360 CID engines. We had our own shop mechanic and he was pretty much an expert on the 360 engine. When we got one he immediately pulled the heads and took them to a machine shop for the machine work then reassembled the heads and reinstalled them. Those old trucks ran great, and forever, but the fuel consumption was a killer. Still cheaper than buying new, and they did everything asked of them with ease. We put utility bodies on them, and bed winches, so with the tools, and equipment we carried they had a HARD life. A lot of weight, even when not carrying equipment. Those trucks are what sold me on Fords for work trucks. Nothing else came close. And I STILL like carburetors and hate electronic fuel injection, sensors and computers for trucks. Flat out GUARANTEE our trucks spent less time in the shop than ANY modern vehicle. And down time costs money in the service business.

[@abolishguncontrollaws5689]

except a modern truck compared to an old dentside (73-79) 73-76 for FE engines, will be outperformed by a modern truck and last longer.

[@joshdenham8404]

My family owns a landscape company, and we are all Ford for the fleet trucks. In the last 20 years or so, we've had every generation the f150-f350. As far as the newer trucks, (by new I mean 80's to early 2000 lol) they gave us constant problems. Always something engine related and constantly breaking down. The Tritons were the worst. With everything going okay until it shot a spark plug out the head at the worst possible time. Our longest lived vehicles, that took the least maintenance and repairs were the 70's trucks with the FE blocks. I still have two that are driven almost daily. No substitute. I guess the only exception is the 99 with the 7.3 power stroke. It's performed great. But diesel is a different animal all together

[@ty2010]

Guessing they got the 4bbl, I had a 73 with the 2bbl and it got fantastic mileage, at least compared to the GMC 400 I had at the time.

[@feelingsogood6073]

Sensors and fuel injectors should be a option for performance minded people with big wallets for engine work . I prefer carbs .

[@danieljonhson6367]

I found that the 360 and 390 engine both run longer if you over load the truck once in a while .

[@lordmarshall5239]

My father had the 76 with a 360 as a plow truck. He gave it to me in 89 when I got my license. So simple, tough and cool. Such character, such a feel on the bench seat holding the steering wheel and stick shift. Good luck. So many memories

[@T0YCHEST]

Does a 67 gt have a 390 or do people fake it with a 360? Idk I'm curious I was searching what is the best transmission I can swap to it, and this video showed up.

[@chuckwhitson654]

My papaw left me a 76f250 4wd 360 with headers, glass packs r.v./ towing can ( former local pulling truck) and 3.90(or Ford equivalent) with 38" monster mudders. Yep it was a papaw truck and he was damn cool... My mamaw made me sell it to buy a more" efficient" car. Only damn vehicle outta Camaros darts dusters and 30 different trucks that I regret selling. It sounded like the baddest thing on the road. He taught me from 3 or 4 yr old that the right pedal is the " loud pedal" I can still hear the poppety crack sound it made coming down the mountain. Best memories

[@chuckwhitson654]

Cam damnit, rv cam

[@chuckwhitson654]

Yeah it was slow Even then but it would drag anything hooked up to the back

[@phillipmackenzie8087]

@@chuckwhitson654 RIGHT ON

[@lisawanderess]

I’ve got one of these! Mine’s an all original 1971 F100 Ranger XLT with the 390 and I love it!!! 😍

[@NoMissOutdoors]

And everyone in California is screwed now with the straw test.... guess they will have to use a dowel.... lol

[@100texan2]

That’s what happens when you let liberals run government.

[@dangerousfreedom4965]

Mech Anon but your drinks all taste like cardboard

[@kd5ozy]

welcome to Wakofornia

[@richardc7721]

I was a Ford tech back when the FE ruled the power line-up at Ford. The 360 truck engine was a sturdy engine, that with a cam swap, 4 bbl manifold & carb, with dual exhaust would definitely haul the mail. People often got into trouble by swapping out the cam without changing the exhaust valve set-up, they had exhaust valve rotators which would bind much above .400 lift. I replaced scores of bent push rods because of that and overreving the engine. Stock lifters would pump up leading to coil bind and bent push rods. If a customer didn't want to invest in a set of springs and keepers with the new cam/ lifter set then I would use a C6,OZB cam from Ford. It was used in 390 GT 4bbl apps. It would really wake up a 360 without the need for valve spring change out because the lift was below.400.

[@casey360360]

The stock cam overlap is insaine. I just picked up a 73 360 and am putting long tubes on her tonight and tomorrow. I wanna find that load of torque the FE lost going from my 72 to 73

[@jonhisey6412]

Wish I would of known that info 20 yrs ago... I used to bend push rods on my 390 weekly... it had a good size cam in it... could never figure out why it would bend them all the time... good to know...

[@robertdavis6708]

Glad you saved the truck. My dad had one just like that.

[@jamesbascombe8274]

Hay man good to see your back. You have been Mia for a bit. Just got a 73 f-100 for free. That gives me two old trucks now.

[@Drinksalotobeer]

Thanks! I've learned alot from your videos.

[@devondewes5239]

thanks man i am looking at an old ford right now and i was having trouble , Thank you.

[@devondewes5239]

Thank you, good to know i'll keep that in mind.

[@robbyjones7631]

Set the choke closed cold. Set the fast idle warm. Set the idle and timing warm. Replace the choke thermostat. Replace the distributor cap and rotor. Get the distributor on #1 TDC on the compression stroke on 0. Turn the engine in normal direction. Lift the distributor and point the rotor at #1 terminal. Turn the distributor way back opposite normal rotation. Lower the distributor and turn the distributor to normal. Put everything back and set the timing. If the distributor won't go down, use a oil pump primer shaft or old distributor with the gear removed to align the oil pump shaft to distributor. This compensates for timing chain wear. Test the choke pull off, vacuum advance, EGR for leakdown, heat control valve vacuum control, transmission vacuum modulator for leakdown, heater/ a/ c vacuum motors, charcoal canister purge container for leakdown, and other vacuum parts. Set the transmission kickdown at full throttle to spec. Adjust the bands using the factory tool and sockets.

[@mark_osborne]

I am going to sit down with a fresh cup of coffee and enjoy every minute because I have NO idea how to tell the difference - externally :-) I was surprised to learn a 4 barrel is standard equipment in 1976 for a 390 !

[@coolbreeze5561]

I had a 360 in a 68 F250 loved it. That's a nice truck you have there

[@brianchisnell1548]

Ahh. I miss my '68 F-250.. 360 2 bbl. Manual choke. Camper Special.

[@BareRoseGarage]

Like you said, I don't know if they are "Stock" but I have come across a few 4bbl 360's on the "T" intake manifolds. Lot of people say all you have to do is look at the tag on the coil bracket, but I've found two of those 360's that they swapped the tag on to make them "look the part". Good stuff man!

[@jesse75]

Most of the tags are long gone. When I had my shop in the 80's and 90's, I used to collect them. I had a couple of hundred of them. Wonder if they are worth anything.

[@markvanleeuwen6678]

pretty slick idea.. i just learned something.. thanks,

[@kellykonoske91]

You mean it doesn't have leaking exhaust manifold? Amazing

[@sleebbie]

That's call the 1:10,000 ratio

[@78mrdad]

After you get your top dead center measurement If you have a way to hook air up to the cylinder and pressurize it it will force the piston all the way to the bottom

[@smokeskull]

I found a 428SCJ in an old lifted F250 one time. I bought it from the guy because it had capscrew connecting rods. I assumed it was a HD truck engine or something. I tore it down and the pistons said 428 SUPER on the sides. The heads were 4 bolts hole CJ heads and the block measured correct dimensisons bore and stroke for 428. It was a very good day. Paid $300.00 for the motor. I put it into a 1957 Ranchero with a big spline top loader and 9 inch N locker. I towed my friends VW Bug powered Hemi to the drag races and never had to shift from 4th thru the entire journey over the mountains.

[@drd1924]

MPG ?

[@Axeman428]

MPG wasn’t much thought about since gas was 28 cents a gallon or less when the FE engine was first built but I have been able to get about 18 mpg with a 68 390 GT fairlane and four forward with 3.25 rear but with a 2.70 rear in my 428CJ falcon I got about 20 as long as the right foot wasn’t too heavy.

[@ericouellette5293]

Dad had a 75 f100 4x4 with the 360 in it. He had the truck for 20 years plowing snow and hauling firewood. In the early 80s he needed a valve job done. The guy who did the work for dad had a set of 390 heads and a 4 barrel intake and carb he put on it. After 20 years of plowing snow and hauling firewood it went to the junkyard with 213,000 miles on it. It still ran and drove even with a busted t-case. A buddy of mine knows who bought the engine and ran it for years after that.

[@mromatic17]

they junked it over a bad t case? if so thats shitty its a pretty easy fix. you could get it fixed for less than 1000 today!

[@jmangi6221]

Good tip. I have a 75 HiBoy 4X4 and the guy I bought it from said it's a 390, so it can't be the original engine, since they only put 360s in the 4wd trucks.I'm gonna do this test just to confirm, thanks for the great trick.😁

[@jimrhoads9810]

they put lots of 360's in 2 wd trucks.............

[@mromatic17]

@@jimrhoads9810 yeah but they only put them in the 4x4’s is what hes saying!

[@justskinnot2seriously71]

Love love love my 1976 camper special f250

[@gadsdenviper7149]

When I do this I run number 1 up till my wooden dowel wont go any higher and mark it at the top of the spark plug hole then run down to BDC and mark it again at the spark plug hole and measure. Very similar to what you did.

[@THE-SLAUGHTERHOUSE.]

Another great vid.!

[@jesse75]

I've had both engines in several Ford trucks. Because they are low compression, I couldn't tell the difference between a 352, 360 or 390. But one thing. All of them are good solid performing truck engines. If you live in cold climate area, they do take along time to warm up. Get a block heater.

[@georgebonney90]

This is a great test thx for making a vid on how u did this

[@tonypickrell4281]

I had a '72 F-250 Ranger that had a 390 4spd , that truck had alot of power , I got 9 miles to the gal. loaded or empty...! Wish I still had that thing...! Had the 16.5 tires on it , was one hell of a work truck...! Had the factory air , power steering , power disk brakes...! Problem with it was the cab mounts and the inner fender wels was rusted out , I came across a 1970 f-250 for $100.°° from a farmer and switched everything from the 72 to the 70...! Took the whole front axels and put on the '70 as it had drum brakes and no power steering on it...! It turned out to be a better ride...!!!

[@erich6150]

I just picked up a 68' F-250 390 4spd, Still working on getting it running but i'm glad to hear your truck was a work horse. I'm only 19 so i know very little about trucks.

[@DHAW10]

Great tip and a cool truck. How about a quick tour?

[@ct9827]

I had a 68 LTD interceptor 390 4 bbl headers cam not a bad engine at all very smooth power.

[@kevinwright754]

I have a 69 F100 it has a 390 in it.It came with the 360 in it originally.But Mom was driving a galaxy that had the 390 in it.When she got a New Monty Carlo I got the Galaxy.Dumb kid hot rodding the car and wrecked it.So dad made me replace the 360 in the truck with the 390 out of the Galaxy.Its still in it and recently rebuilt to Ford factory specifications.After me it goes to my oldest son.I grew up in it and learned to drive in it.The clutch is a beast gotta have a strong leg.Its not perfect.But I love it.

[@tonyneises5195]

Love it...nice job.

[@youngestson6537]

Very informative video 📹 👍

[@magicdaveable]

Lots of 390's had 2 barrel carbs. Mercury station wagons had 390 fe engines. I rebuilt lots of them back in the early 80's. I always searched the boneyards for 4 barrel intake manifolds. They weren't easy to find and the 4 barrel got much better gas mileage plus made much quicker hot rods. My F-150 4x4 390(4 barrel) 4 speed (granny low) could pull down trees.

[@VeryOddTimes]

David Bennett May I ask what year? I have a 76, basically the same set up. I was told in a forum once that the 4x4 390 set ups were not available for the F-150 and were only available for the f250. I already had a couple of mechanics check it out and confirm it is a 390. So either the trucks did come up with this setup or it probably had an engine swap at one point. I’ve looked around all over forums and what not but get conflicting results.

[@magicdaveable]

@@VeryOddTimes I built mine from "bones." It was originally a 360 that had a hole through the block. I had a very low mileage 390 from a Merc station wagon that had been crunched in an accident. Most of my pickup trucks came from the boneyard. It helps knowing the boneyard owner really well. I wrenched on his Pan Head regularly so he always called when he had Ford "stuff" I was interested in finding. I got a Boss 302 for $200 from him. 😎

[@VeryOddTimes]

David Bennett Goddamn. That’s badass man, congrats! Idk I love my FE but I want to make the truck into something with a whole lot of grunt. Where I live everyone (and I mean everyone), has cammed up chevy’s and think they have the fastest shit out here. Some guys have serious trucks though, but I want something that’ll blow the doors off most of them. It’d be neat to find an old 406, 410, 427, or 428. I found some builders that sell some pretty hard-hitting turn-key FE’s but for the same money, I can get a built 460. Or I can just try and do what I can with my 390, it already has a little cam and some decent grunt, but I want more.

[@christinamoneyhan5688]

My father bought a 69 F250 with a 390 Granny low 4 speed 4x4 it too was a beast. Loved gasoline. Might have got 6 mpg. on a good day.Good thing gasoline only cost 32 cents a gallon back when gasoline was good fuel.

[@adhd-motors3972]

Very cool!

[@harrypotter4309]

Wow, I'll take one for that money. (it would cost about 7 times more here in U.K., if you were lucky) they are here, but they're dear !!. Love FE's I've got two.

[@garywinters2282]

Outstanding!

[@TheJohndeere212]

That is a great truck!

[@curtisvonepp4335]

Ford did put a metal tag on one of the intake manifold bolts rear passenger side look for it .

[@piratecat4519]

Mine actually had a metal tag on the distributor hold down bolt that was stamped 390.

[@jesusisalive3227]

I just did this a couple weeks ago on my new to me 1971 f100, the truck has a 360 sticker on the air cleaner 😞 but it ended up being a 390 😁 it does have a 2 brl on it but I have a factory original 4 brl intake waiting to go on it!

[@dalet1808]

It's a 360 when u bye it and 390 when u sell it. How ever when I bought mine the old man told me it was a 360 i found out when I pulled heads off she was a 390 so yeah needless to say I was very happy😁

[@Tadjuel11-11]

I thought marking the straw with the 360 and 390 measurements was easy but checking cylinder 4 when cylinder 1 is at TDC is the bomb way to do it.

[@ThunderHead289]

Due to dwell, you can know true tdc without a piston stop - I agree with you, but that’s easy to mess up 👍

[@codyandrews6611]

Just bought a 1976 F350 Super Camper Special with the 390 FE 151K miles

[@donaldfloyes3014]

Cool air horns!!

[@BoundANDDetermined88]

Gotta love low tech solutions for difficult questions.

[@TBullCajunbreadmaker]

Talk about a good deal. You have way more value in the drivetrain in that truck than $1,000. The engine alone is well worth at least $1,500. I have had a few vehicles with the 390 and the 406 as well as the 352 and 351. I've had 289s and 302s as well and the 390 is by far the best big block of all of Ford's big block engines. They are easy to put a lot of extra power into them and that engine can really throw it's weight around.

[@MitzvosGolem1]

Ford made 331, 361 and 391 HD truck motors also. 377 and and 429 HD came later. Issues with exhaust manifold burned valves rear main leaks and starters on Fords these years.A also a huge 534v8 which is a collectable today.

[@jimrhoads9810]

i had a 538 in a dump truck, gas guzzling damn thing..............

[@tonywright7319]

429 was a different block. 331 through 427-428 were FE blocks and 429-460 were lima blocks.

[@Mcleod0000]

I didn't think you could handle a 390 engines power, till I heard that music at the end

[@danielc5205]

All 360s were 2V engines. If you know the engine is original to the truck and hasn't been converted, the fourth letter in the V.I.N is what the factory motor is/was. Also, as you should know, the 390s were only used in 4x2 trucks and passanger cars. And, a interesting fact is, the FE 360 uses the same crank and rods as the FE 352. The only difference between the 352 and the 360, is that the 360 has .05" bigger bore than the 352.

[@opeelmr4800]

Most 390's have a hanging down oil filter adapter and the 360 comes straight out dead give away if you see it. Just had Lordco Machine Shop out of Mission BC build me a sweet 390 357 hp 419 lbs of torque engine. Edelbrock heads and matching intake. I bought a Steve Christ FE book a long time ago with all kinds of good info on these engines. Sez 390 right on the fender of my 69 XL convertable! You want the 390 crank which has a notch at the flywheel end 360 has no notch. If you have a good block keep it safe as I lost 1 to rust over time. Cheers

[@justinw.2376]

Pretty hard to tell if engine is the original sometimes because most cases the engine was replaced years ago

[@cammontreuil7509]

352 used a longer rod.

[@s.curtis2914]

Good video, unless I’m mistaken, the easiest way to telll if it’s a 360 or 390. Look at the water pump. 360’s are smaller than 390’s.. I’ve got a 66 galaxy with a 390, 69’ f100, w/ 390, 71 f250,&75 f350 both have 360’s Between these years the water pumps are the easiest way to determine 360 or 390..

[@boogieshmurda36]

S. Curtis it is. When working on my truck, I just assumed it was a 390. Bought a water pump for a 390 and I didn’t fit. Went back to auto zone and got a pump for a 360 and it fit perfectly

[@drd1924]

@@boogieshmurda36 I thought the only dif between the 2 was stroke and pistons? Why would not a 390 pump fit on a 360?

[@makeamericagreatagain7314]

Nice truck

[@gsallison1]

My old F250 came std with a 360 and was way worn out. picked up a 390 out of a Galaxy 500 and then it ran like a at out of hadees, super strong running work truck.

[@salvadordollyparton666]

Jerry A I had a 76 f100 4x4 that came with a 360 and got a 390 from some 72 car. It was a factory 4 barrel and damn was it a beast. It'd cruise at 80 no problem all day getting better mileage than my 00 5.4, with a granny 4 speed and no oberdrive. Get there in a hurry too.

[@jimrhoads9810]

when i was lookin for a work truck years ago i would buy a truck with a worn out 360 there were a lot of them. put a 390 in and be ready to go...........

[@salvadordollyparton666]

Yep, I'm ready for another F.E. powered truck. I always wanted to build the 332 or whichever is in my grandpa's old '67 600 wrecker. But I'm kinda thinking dt466 or some other medium diesel. Be nice to have another short bed 4wd.

[@gsallison1]

hey Nick, I used my F250 (w/390 @ about 300HP) to haul firewood, One time it hauled HICKORY which is one of the heaviest woods, the load was piled level with the top of the cab. even put some where the passenger sits, My buddy had to ride on top of the load, but didn't have just a couple of miles to get home. Now I drive a Tesla model 3 and its a wild beast in sheep's clothing for sure. Take care budd.

[@microgamer54]

Also if number one cylinder is tdc number four will be all the way down u can stick the straw in both of them and measure the difference

[@jhmonthetube6339]

One easy visual way to tell…the 360 has a smaller water pump than the 390, at least for the 71 and 72 F250 pickups.

[@slimjim119]

360 sits about 1/2 an inch down the hole if I removed the head with a flat top piston

[@jackthompson9927]

Nice truck.

[@sspeedy2859]

I have a 390 that came with a 4 barrel, it's out of a 1962 T bird.Going into my 1969 XL.

[@georgebonney90]

I dnt think I'd have he heart to part out this truck,I'm glad u changed ur mind

[@normadams6296]

Just a scoch,that's classic ,that's a standard in are old shop back in the days of racing

[@tombob671]

👍

[@garysimonson9593]

The 352 is also a 3.5" stroke and they also used the same block casting. The 360 has the 4.05 bore of a 390, the 352 has a 4.00" bore. 390 stroke was 3.780, so your straw test looks right. There were a *lot* of 352s produced, measuring a 3.5" stroke doesn't guarantee a 360 - last year of the 352 was '67.

[@christophersnyder3241]

390 got a 3.783 inch stroke. same as 427.

[@red58fury]

I honestly need to do this. I bought it in 2012 and owner said it’s a 360. Vin says truck was 360 from factory but you can tell someone has been into the engine before. So maybe it was rebuilt to a 390 who knows.

[@neil6212]

Back when I was in my 20s, I bought a new Mustang convertible which had a 390 4V, 4 speed and "dapco" rear end in 3.25:1 Looked like a regular Ford 9", which at the time was as plentiful as one could want. After a year or so, I decided to warm it up a bit, and installed a 427 cam, along with the solid lifters and appropriate push rods and adjustable rockers. When I was finishing up the install, I found that new valve covers were needed, too! Fortunately, the local dealer had a pair on the shelf! So, the 390 was rated at 335 HP and had a 10.5:1 compression ratio as I recall. Any guess as to the difference in horsepower? It surely felt faster, and the killer idle was awesome! BTW...I'm now in my mid seventies, and still am again buying new Fords, since 1986 after a hiatus of several years. Marriage does that to you sometimes!

[@ThunderHead289]

I bet it was 390 horsepower at least with a good 4 barrel set up!

[@mromatic17]

ive heard that the old 390’s especially in the old 60’s thunderbirds were about 400ish and they were rated at about 390 if i remember right.

[@michaelanderson8361]

From a video from the past, how is that power master alternator still holding up? I just ordered mine for my 390, hope it’s a excellent add on compared to my oreilly auto parts alternator!

[@ThunderHead289]

Is that my old 1 wire alternator on my f100 that you are referring to?

[@77yogurt]

"Here is how to quickly tell what you have".......... I wouldn't go as far as saying quickly, but I gave the video a thumbs up nonetheless.

[@ThunderHead289]

I appreciate that. I tend to run a little on the wordy side - I just try to not leave any stone unturned as far as questions that may arise

[@chrisvorderstrasse5701]

Definitely faster than pulling the pan to check the casting number on the crank.

[@whitestratman3158]

OR you could take the valve cover off and look up the numbers on the head on the internet to get the engine size, year, and specifics.

[@ThunderHead289]

Didn’t work for the 360/390. Literally the same engine except for crank rods and pistons

[@ThunderHead289]

someday ill figure out this computer thing - this was supposed to drop tomorrow Stop over to the thunderhead289 tech & tune facebook page and say hi !!! - facebook.com/groups/2041856606030081/?ref=bookmarks

[@olmoe1167]

You got a Great deal on this if you got it for a Grand... From what I can see of her,,, She's got some rust around the wheel arches,, but LMC sells patch panels that can take care of that...(noticed your Ball cap)...lol I'm partial to short wheel base trucks, but they're getting harder and harder to find... Besides if you need a work/Farm truck an 8 ft. bed is much better for hauling.... My daily driver is an all Factory '76 f-100 swb, 302 2 barrel A/T, with Factory A/C... Have people asking if I want to sell it all the time...lol Sure would love to have that sliding back glass you got in yours,,, The old original ones like that are getting impossible to find.... Looking forward to seeing more on this one....keep up the great videos....

[@ericbuff5888]

Don't forget the 352 FE. My 67 f100 had a 352 with a fmx/c5 auto. Set up as a camper special. Fast no, power to haul all day YES.

[@johnkendall6962]

My fathers F-250 was his work truck and my go where I wanted truck on the weekends or if he didn't need it 352 cu 2 barrel 3 on the tree and no power brakes no power steering Clutch so heavy my leg would start to shake at red lights . Wish I still had it.

[@petebaneet]

What carb do you suggest for a stock 360?

[@sirtango1]

Good looking truck. She will probably pass about everything on the road except a gas station. They like to drink! :)

[@spencersand2754]

I have a question would a carburetor from a 289 302 or 351 fit on a 360 or 390 FE

[@user-ee4pc3fu1d]

Find top dead center on one take the spark plugs out of one and four one will be at top dead center and four will be at the bottom of the stroke

[@MSG4LIF3]

I have a 390 ford galaxie 500 1967 with a Camshaft, Hydraulic Flat Tappet, Advertised Duration 274/286, Lift .562/.565, Ford, Big Block FE. And wanted to put a torque storm single supercharger and can i run it with out doing any work to the steal heads? Or do anything else to engine?

[@joealbert7773]

Would you believe that you can put a 390 crank in a 360 with all 360 parts and the engine will run? Traded for a Ford truck at the dealership that had a bad rod bearing. Got a new crank from the local NAPA. When we started it, it sounded like a diesel, but it ran. The technician thought it might be the wrong crank, but I was sure that the pistons would hit the head with a 390 crank. They didn't, but the compression ratio was out of sight.

[@Zib187]

My uncle would use the coffee cup test instead of the nickle test.

[@johnparrish9215]

The 360's get a bum rap. They are all forged cranks that are fully counterweighted. If you ever wanted to build a wicked boosted FE engine, the 360 might be a good way to go.

[@fk4515]

that's the difference between an FE and a FT engine

[@garysimonson9593]

The 360 was built with low compression and a cam profile made for pulling things, being a truck engine and all. A 360 can warm right up with more compression and cam.

[@p51dman]

The easiest way to tell, pull the dust cover, ( most often missing), look at the very end of the crankshaft where the flywheel attaches. Slowly rotate the engine, and look with a flashlight, a 360 will have a "half moon" cast into the end, where a 390 will not and will only have a "keyway" cast into the end. If it is needed, there are only 4 bolts that hold the dust cover on. A 390 crank will have a 2U stamped into it where a 360 will have a 2T.

[@fredthegraycatt]

Not accurate. I have a 390 with a 3.78 stroke, part C4AE-B, and it has a half moon cut in the rear crank flange.

[@thomasfroberg1294]

Why didn’t you use a bump start and use a pushrod and dial indicator?

[@redram5150]

It’s not an easy thing to notice, but the angle of the mating surfaces between FT and FE engines are not the same. Learned that the hard way when a friend tried bolting an aftermarket manifold he pulled from a 360 and tried mounting it to his 390. Same issue on a 352 as well.

[@gregsilveira6808]

The 352, 360 and the 390 are all FE engines. The FT engines are 361, 391, etc. 352, 360, 390, 406, 410, and 428 heads and manifolds are fully interchangeable.

[@vernonknight8611]

I had a 1972 390 2V rated at 265 hp. After 1973, the 390 4V was rated at about 175 hp

[@ronniecarroll3929]

What happened why did they drop power

[@typrus6377]

@@ronniecarroll3929 Emissions. Compression drop. Change in rating methods. Plenty of reasons.

[@tbjtbj4786]

My dads 74 4x4 f100 had a 360 with a factory 4 b. You know the way ford used parts any thing can happen.

[@bryanhauschild4376]

Awesome. Where are you at! Would you sell it?

[@fk4515]

Ah but technically the 360 was a FT engine (Ford truck) as opposed to a FE engine (Ford-Edsel) another FT engine was the 391 but I don't think they were used in any light trucks. IIRC Ford offered no 4BBL carburetors stock during that era. We bought a new 1972 F350 crew cab and a New 75 F-100, both with the 361 FT engine. We spun a bearing in the F-100 and it got put back together with a 4BBL intake from a 1966 vintage 352 (FE) and a Holley carb.

[@tnaccountability7455]

The FE is the family engine block is what gm copied for the LS. And their ford valve placement

[@jamesford2942]

360, the lack of power of a 352 and the bad gas mileage of a 390 combined to be a lackluster engine. Last good Ford truck came off the line in 1979. Love my old Ford trucks.

[@jasonmushersee]

bent push rod issue, vibration damper goes bad alot, low oil pressure, rocker tick noise, hard starting on cold mornings and at high miles these spin rod bearings. when doing heavy pulling like hay wagons, gravity/chopper boxes the exhaust manifold gaskets blow out start to leak. my dads '69 3/4 ton 2x4 had a 360 that burned oil like crazy so we dumped in all the tractor waist 15w40 & 85w even hydraulic oil. when i was 16 i drove it to church every sunday and i reeked like ford. thing had no brakes at all so i'ld shut then engine off on the hwy while turning into the church parking lot and slowly coast into a spot. that damn truck could pull 3 minnesota 250 gravity boxes of shelled corn! i sure miss that truck

[@farmalmta]

LOL... pulling 3 gravity wagons of shelled corn at once may explain the rest of the story you told.

[@briana3467]

The good old days.

[@petedongara1935]

I heard the late 70s on the Fe engines Ford put a lot more Nickel in the cast-iron and those engines will last a lot longer than the previous Fe engines

[@johnhutchinson7306]

Never used nickel.

[@williamallen7836]

Mid 1970's is when they started reducing nickle in the blocks. The fe's kept until the late 1970's

[@joser5193]

Wow, Darn good work. Having an issue with a 71 f100 360 just rebuilt the carburetor but yet the darn thing still hesitates when accelerating at a light. Trying to get this one steadily running for my Pops. Any ideas? Thank

[@ThunderHead289]

Hey my friend, join the Thunderhead289 Facebook group! KZbin has gotten bad at notifications, I can track a conversation much better there!

[@jonhisey6412]

Check the power valve... if they fail it will give you a hesitation when taking off...

[@timc2346]

Good tip but if it's original you can identify with the VIN.Provided it's is original.

[@mandelaeffect3521]

I'm a proud owner of 390 fe

[@fordnut4914]

I'm proud owner of 460 gasaholic 😆

[@danieljonhson6367]

I owned a lot of old Fords and I've had the 360 and 390 I prefer the 360 it seemed to have a quicker take off at least the one I had did

[@Terminxman]

That would most likely be because of the smaller 2 barrel carb (at least stock)

[@chrisadam8103]

Easy way check VIN numbers or block numbers. Through Ford they can give you the info. Easer.

[@ThunderHead289]

You could check the vin. But a lot of guys sell engine not in a vehicle. Can’t check the block casting numbers because a 360 and 390 are the same block

[@randymelendez7803]

Or somebody puts a 2U crank and 390 rods in the 360 block. Gotta measure to be sure

[@desertmonsoon1]

A dial gauge will tell you exactly how much the piston has moved. No stupid straw inaccurate markings, etc.

[@ThunderHead289]

You don’t have to be exact - a 360 to 390 is enough difference to visually see if making arbitrary markings. Also, anyone has a straw.

[@tyronecraft3924]

I want it. 😎

[@graysonkremeier]

How do you tell this when buying one though?

[@jamesrodriquez2863]

Part it out?!?! Um, Hell to the double naw!! It's a damn good running truck with lots of life in it. Glad you changed your mind. Save the parting out for the ones that aren't worth rescuing.

[@steveh7108]

As I understand it, the rule of thumb is: if it's four wheel drive it's more likely to be a 360. I guess trucks that required more torque got the 360. Can't claim I know for sure but I believe I remember doing some research a couple years back and that was the difference between the 390 and 360 applications from the factory.

[@TheRoadhammer379]

Ford absolutely never used 390 in the 4x4. None of the Ford literature ever shows 390, though a dealer could install a 390 as a dealer option